Frank o



(No Model.)

I. 0. PLUMMER. ELECTRIC GAS LIGHTING APPARATUS.

No. 562,850. Patented June 30', 1896.

M QW m n W Qy 3 .PHOTO-UTHO.WASNINGYOILDC AN DREW some UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

FRANK O. PLUMMER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDEDIVIN \V. HAM, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC GAS-LIGHTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,850, dated June 30,1896.

Application filed August 16, 1895. Serial No. 559,457. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK O. PLUMMER, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Yorcester, in the county of Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ElectricGas- Lighting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved gaslighting apparatus, and theobject of my invention is to provide an incandescent gasburner which iscombined with simple and eflicient means for automatically turning on,lighting, or cutting off the supply of gas.

To these ends my invention consists of the parts and combinations ofparts as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in theclaim at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of anincandescent gasburner and a gas-lighting apparatus constructedaccording to my invention, and Fig.

2 is a detail sectional view illustrating the means which I preferablyemploy for securing one of the platinum terminals in the burner-cap.

In the use of the ordinary incandescent gasburners, such, for example,as are employed in the IVelsbach system, it has heretofore ordinarilybeen the custom either to light the separate burners by hand or toregulate the valve of the burner so as to leave a smallconstantly-burning flame.

The first method of lighting incandescent gas-lamps is objectionable, asthe mixture of air and gas which is employed will cause a slightexplosion or concussion whenever a burner is lighted, and theseexplosions frequently break or shatter the burner-hood, which isordinarily constructed of refractory materials which are extremelyfragile.

The practice of employing a small, constantly-burning flame isobjectionable, as the flame is liable either to be blown out or to beextinguished by fluctuations in the gas-pressure.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic electric apparatusfor turning on, lighting, or shutting 01f the supply of gas employed inan incandescent gas lamp. To acstem of the burner.

complish these purposes, I insulate the burner or lamp, and employ saidburner to form part of the electric circuit.

In ordinary gas-lighting apparatus, the platinum lighting-terminals arelocated at one side of the flame.

In lighting an incandescent gas-burner, it is necessary that the gasshould be ignited inside of the burner-hood, and in practice Ipreferably cut away the burner-hood and locate the platinum terminalsinside of the same. As thus located, the lighting-terminals are exposedto a considerable degree of heat, and in order to secure one of theterminals to the burner-cap, I preferably form sockets in the burner-capby stamping in integral straps, and support the terminal by means ofthese sockets. The other platinum terminal is carried by a rod supportedin a suitable insulated bearing, and operated by magnets to make andbreak the circuit.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, 10 designates thelighting-magnets, which are arranged to cooperate with a pivotedarmature 11, said armature 11 being arranged to engage with and turn thevalve-stem 12 by means of projecting inner arms. From the lightermagnets10, the lighting-wire a is carried through an insulating-bushing 25, andis connected to the body of the gas-burner by means of a check-nut 26,which is threaded onto the The stem of the burner is supported andthreaded into an insulatingbushing 27. Resting upon and actuated by thepivoted armature 11 is an operating-rod 13, which is normally held inits lowest position by means of a spring 14. The operatingrod 13 isoffset, as at 15, and passes through an insulating-bushing 17, carriedin a cylindrical casing 16, riveted to the gallery or shade-support ofthe burner, as shown. At its upper end, the rod 13 is provided with aplatinum terminal 19, which extends through a cut-awayportion in theburner-hood h. The second platinum terminal 20 is secured in theburner-cap 21, and I preferably stamp or force in sections of theburner-cap, as at 22 and 23, to form sockets for supporting the terminal20, and I prefer this construction, as I have found in practice thatwhen solder is employed, the parts are liable to become de tached. Theshut-off magnets 28 are secured in position to cooperate with a pivotedarmature 29, which is arranged to operate upon the valve-stem 12, and toshut off the supply of gas by means of wire arms, as shown.

With a gas-lighting apparatus as thus organized, when the circuit isclosed through the lighting-wire a, the current is passed through thelighter-magnets 10, through the insulating-bushing 25, through the bodyof the lamp, through the terminals and 19, back through theoperating-rod 13, and thence to the gas-pipe in the ordinary manner.

When the lighter-magnets are energized, the gas will be turned on, theterminals 19 and 20 will be separated, breaking the current and causinga spark, and this currentbreaking action will be maintained as long asthe circuit is closed through the wire a.

When a circuit is closed through the shutoff wire I), the shut-offmagnets 28 will be energized, and the valve will be turned to cut offthe supply of gas.

I am aware that slight changes may be made in the construction ofelectric gas-lighting apparatus without departing from thescope of myinvention as expressed in the claim. I

formed in the burner-cap, an operating-rod for the other terminal, aninsulated bearing for said rod, a lighter-magnet connected to turn onthe gas and actuate said rod, and a shut-off magnet arranged to cut offthe supply of gas, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRANK O. PLUMMER.

IVitnesses:

LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE.

